Rountree - Meredith
Source: H.W. Beckwith History (Chicago: HH Hill, 1881) p 175
Meredith
ROUNTREE, retired, Crawfordsville, was born May 13, 1814, in Orange County, NC.
His parents, Charles and Sarah (HAYES) Rountree, were born, raised and married
in Armaugh County, Ireland. They came to America in 1806, landing at New
Castle, Delaware and thence went direct to NC. There they farmed 17 years, then
6 years in Butler County, OH and in 1827 came to Montgomery County and settled
in Ripley Twp, where the elder Rountree entered 160 acres of land in the NW 1/4
Sec 24. Here the pioneers built the log hut, cleared the farm, and tilled the
land, with but few to molest them. He was a stalwart republican and taught his
boys the same grand principles for which he voted. Prior to republicanism he
had been a whig. Both he & wife were members of the Methodist Church. He
died at age 84 and his wife followed him in two years afterward at the age of
86. Both were interred in the Alamo Cemetery The son, Meredith Rountree,
learned well the significance of the word toil, and but little of the word
school. he aided his father until his majority, when his father gave him 200
acres of land. With this start, Mr. Rountree began for himself. By perseverance,
industry and care he added to his possessions until in 1865 he was able to
retire from hard labor owning 640 acres, 500 of which were under cultivation.
since retiring he has disposed of his farm until he now has but 240 acres. Mr.
Rountree was married. Sept 6, 1840 to Melinda MANN of Mercer Co, ILL. They had
four children: Rhoda A; Henry Clay; Sarah E. and Daniel Webster. All are
deceased except the last named. Mrs. Rountree died March 27, 1871. Mr. Rountree
was next married to Mrs. Mary A. McCLELLAN, of Crawfordsville, Jan 1, 1872. His
eldest son, Henry C, served his time in the civil war and died at
Jeffersonville, IN on his way home. His youngest son is now a member of the
firm of MYERS & Rountree, in the dry goods business in Crawfordsville. Mr.
R. owns considerable property in the city. kbz